Look to the stars, baby!  It’s a truly astronomical weekend in Los Angeles. First we had another one of those blood moon things, (which I’m told was lovely but, you know, late. Momma needs sleep). Then we had all sorts of executive visits (both presidential and vice). I didn’t actually see those either, though I may have heard them (helicopters and Tea Party rants). But I tell you what I wouldn’t miss for all the world: the return of the JPL Open House. Science, dudes! Rockets! Spacecraft! 

If the only star you need to see is your own beaming baby, you might want to check out LA Parent’s cover kids contest. If you can’t say Star without Wars, you can join fellow readers at Barnes and Noble or fellow bricklayers at Toys R Us. The Music Center is the star of its own festivities, as is Marina del Rey.

And as any child will tell you, the real star of October is Halloween.  The trains, mazes, and spook-fests have begun. You have two more weekends to get your spook spirits up, before the most hallowed eve arrives. And possibly the Great Pumpkin.

Keep reading for our most out of this world picks for the weekend...

If you're anything like me, you don't know your aperture from your autofocus. So the holiday season is the perfect time to commission a professional family portrait. Whether your picture ends up on your wall or on your holiday card (or both), sitting for a family photo should be fun and reasonably affordable—let's face it, it's going to be a bit of a splurge unless you go to a department store.

The most stressful part about booking a family photo shoot? Figuring out where to start. There are so many photographers and portrait studios out there, especially in New York City. We've tried to help simplify your research by rounding up some of the best NYC spots specializing in child and family photography. We also included some department store options which, while less personalized, are also less expensive.

Photo courtesy of Sarah Sloboda Photography

If your little one enjoys experimenting, have them concoct a fun and educational celebration at their own hands-on science-themed birthday party. From making goo to chemistry in the kitchen, curious little minds can explore the wonders of science at these party places on Long Island.

For more birthday party ideas, be sure to check out our Long Island Party Guide.

Because we write for and about thoughtful parents, the Metropolitan Water District recently invited Mommy Poppins to an all-day seminar about the drought in California. As a native Californian, I was anxious to attend, because I vividly remember the drought in 1976-1977. Back then, restaurants were not allowed to serve water unless requested, and we barely flushed our toilets. Our mantra was “If it’s yellow let it mellow, if it’s brown flush it down.” Much has changed since the 70s. For one thing, all toilets these days are low flow and consume far less water than they used to. More importantly, the MWD and other water agencies across the state have learned many lessons and as a result have greatly increased our capacity to store water from wet seasons to have it available during dry times. But what else should families be doing, and how can we help our kids to preserve their most important resource? 

Fall is underway, and ‘tis the season to be orange. And there’s orange everywhere you look! The leaves are turning brilliant shades of auburn. Pumpkins are popping up at the farms, front stoops and even in the form of giant lawn inflatables. This weekend, there’s plenty of orange to go round. Party with pumpkins galore at the South Jersey Pumpkin Show. Revel in the season throughout the state at fantastic fall festivals, including the Allentown Fall Festival, the Hightstown Hometown Harvest Fair and the Dunellen HarvestFest. And for a splashy day trip, visit the Camden Aquarium for its African Penguin Awareness Weekend. For a full list of weekend activities, check out our Event Calendar.

If you haven’t heard, something called ‘Paint ’n Sip’ is sweeping the country.  From Miami to Cedar Rapids, mamas are tucking their wee ones into bed and sneaking off with their gal pals … to art studios.  You may know precisely where they are, as many offer Art Classes for Kids by day. By starry night, however, parents channel their inner Picasso or Matisse … with the help of a patient instructor and a bottle of red or white.  Getting the nerve to paint in public, and freely at that, takes a little coaxing for some!  These studios promise zero experience or talent required … merely a willing spirit.  They take you brush stroke-by-brush stroke through a novice-friendly work, and you come out with something all your own — you might even be proud of it.  Mommy friends of mine that have tried it, say it’s a good time (and trust me, they aren’t talented, haha — at least in this way)!  The studios run the gamut from art school to franchise to full-on restaurant, so you have your choice of ambiance.  And lest you think the franchises, are, well, franchise-ish, know they seem to take giving back pretty seriously, with a range of ‘paint it forward’ sorts of non-profit efforts.  Seriously, friends, it’s fun you can feel good about.  

The fall harvest is in full swing and while you can celebrate the season right here in NYC, the upcoming Columbus Day holiday weekend is an ideal time to get out of town for one last nature-themed excursion before the cold of winter sets in. Even though apple picking is already pretty much over (many orchards say their trees have been picked bare), farms throughout the northeast are still offering lots of seasonal fun like pumpkin patches, giant corn mazes, petting zoos and other agritainment.

We've rounded up half a dozen attraction-filled destinations for Columbus Day weekend. Most are within two hours of the city and make great day trips but a few require an overnight stay. For even more vacation inspiration, check out our NYC Family Getaways Guide and our Travel site, which has a great list of fall travel deals.