February break ends with a literal bang as NYC rings in the Lunar New Year with FREE firecracker-filled parades in Manhattan's Chinatown, Flushing, Queens and Brooklyn's Sunset Park. You can also celebrate Black History Month at the Apollo Theater's Open House or a late Presidents' Day at the Morris-Jumel Mansion, or enjoy a Culinary Kids Food Festival at the New York Botanical Garden.

These are just a few of the great things going on this weekend. All of our best bets are below. You can find more options in our Event Calendar, our Winter Fun Guide and our list of 35 things to do over midwinter break.

When you have kids, it’s inevitable that they will start asking for a dog. They’ll plead and promise they’ll take care of it, but we all know in our hearts that the dog will be ours and that we will end up taking care of and loving it. Our family gave in to the dog plea four years ago and we love our bossy, barky, shaggy beast. The only part we don’t love is having to leave her behind when we go away, whether for work or on a family vacation. But now there's Rover.com.

I originally found out about Rover from a friend who had a great experience and I was looking forward to trying it for myself. Then I learned that, in honor of National Love Your Pet Day (Friday, February 20), Rover is helping pet parents make adorable #RoverGrams and donating $1 for every share to Save-A-Vet, a charity that rescues retired military and law enforcement dogs.

Read on to learn more about the easiest way to find a pet sitter, how to make a funny RoverGram video to help dogs, and get $25 toward your first night of dog sitting with our sponsor Rover.

If Los Feliz is where your stroller rolls, then you know it's not just for hipsters anymore. The eastside, hillside neighborhood is now as popular with families as Santa Monica and Pasadena, and as close to Griffith Park as Burbank. From hiking to pony rides without giving up an artisan cup of coffee, this is one of the easiest locations in Los Angeles to find something for everyone. Whether you're a neighborhood family wanting to stay close today, or from farther afield and ready to try a different neighborhood's version of our 100 things list, feast your eyes on our collection of family activities in Los Feliz.

At this point in the winter, we’re trudging along, dreaming of mild spring days and even a flower or two (heck, most of us would settle for not having to shovel snow). Luckily, New Jersey is full of family fun this weekend, with activities to help you beat the end of winter blues. Get a dose of culture and celebrate the Chinese New Year at Garden State Discovery Museum, take your little Superman to check out the awesome Superhero Filmmaking program at Montclair Art Museum or sit down to a dainty meal during Matilda’s Tea Party at the Frelinghuysen Arboretum. For some outdoor winter fun, check out the Nature Kids Discovery Day at Schiff Natural Lands or learn about maple sugaring at Tenafly Nature Center. For even more weekend fun, check out the full list of weekend activities in our Event Calendar.
 

When we heard that Disney on Ice presents Frozen was coming to Boston, you can imagine the excitement level in our house.  (Sometimes I wonder if the Elsa craze contributed to the "freezing" of Boston these last couple of weeks. There has to be some sort of correlation, right!?)  

We went on Valentine's Day afternoon, under the threat of a blizzard, and we had a really fun time.  Even our one-year-old was dancing to the music and screamed, "Wow!" when (spoiler alert) Kristoff and Anna kissed at the end.  Below is my candid parent review, followed by five insider tips at the end.

One of the best places to let kids show off their creativity is in the kitchen. And if you happen to have a future Top Chef on your hands, you can celebrate his or her love of cooking and baking with a birthday party at one of these Long Island locations. From tossing dough for a personal pizza to piping icing on fresh-out-of-the-oven cookies, these party places can teach your little one (and pals) some valuable kitchen skills, while also giving them something super yummy to enjoy during the party or at home.

And for more birthday party ideas, check out our Long Island Party Guide.

Shopping for children's clothes can be so much fun--it's hard to resist little tutus, sailor suits, and appliqued tops for 2-year-olds. However, if you're looking to buy brand-names clothes or toys, but don't want to pay full price, consider purchasing items on consignment. See below for consignment shops in South Jersey that sell and buy children's consignment items and don't forget to check out our posts on consignment shops in Northern and Central NJ and Philadephia.