| Page 1404 | Mommy Poppins - Things to Do with Kids

Is Monkey: Journey to the West Good for Kids? What Parents Need to Know

Submitted by Raven Snook on Mon, 07/15/2013 - 10:00am

There's been a lot of buzz about Monkey: Journey to the West, an over-the-top stage adaptation of a famous 16th-century Chinese novel that mixes animation, circus acts, and rock, techno and traditional Chinese opera. From the moment I saw the ads featuring funky, anime-style characters, I knew I had to take my seven-year-old. And while I'm glad I did, Monkey was not at all what I expected.

Although the show overflows with eye-popping visuals that are sure to dazzle audiences of all ages, it is clearly not aimed at kids (or some adults—reviews have been decidedly mixed). It's officially recommended for ages 8 and up but after seeing it, I think enjoyment has less to do with age and more with taste and temperament. Here are are five things to keep in mind if you're planning to take your kids to see Monkey: Journey to the West

For more family theater options, check out our list of the top five Off-Broadway shows for kids.

Museum of Fine Arts, Boston with a Toddler: Five Things to Do and Five Things to Know

Submitted by Rachel Becker on Mon, 07/15/2013 - 9:46am

In my college intro to art history class, I learned how to examine and really 'read' a painting, its symbols, icons, and contexts. I loved how all the details contributed to a greater understanding of the composition as a whole. Since kids have an uncanny ability to observe (and remember) the most obscure details, why not help them practice on a painting? When summer days are hot (or winter days, miserable), we trek out to the Museum of Fine Arts with our daughter. Read on for tips we've learned from our visits. For more tips on ways to engage your children before and after your visit to the MFA, check out Tara's post from last summer.

Dinosaur Safari at the Bronx Zoo: Meet Prehistoric Creatures That Move and Roar

Submitted by Stephanie Ogozalek on Sun, 07/14/2013 - 12:00pm

This post was published in 2013 when Dinosaur Safari debuted. The ride is back for 2014 with new dinos and other attractions.

Throughout the year, the Bronx Zoo offers awesome and enriching live animal exhibits and activities for families. But this summer, the zoo is doing something it has never done before: Shining a spotlight on extinct creatures. Of course when you go on the Bronx Zoo's new Dinosaur Safari adventure, you may start to believe that these prehistoric giants are once again roaming the earth. That's because you come face-to-face with more than 20 different dinos that move and roar—quite realistically!

Dinosaur Safari manages to be very educational as well as great fun, especially if you have a dino-obsessed child like my son. (Even at eight he's still seriously into them.) Families hop on a wagon where a "paleontologist" (a.k.a. a knowledgeable tour guide) takes you through a hidden gate that supposedly leads back in time. Once there, you travel through a lush prehistoric forest filled with realistic-looking dinos that look you right in the eye as if sizing up their next meal. But don't be alarmed: The dinos are state-of-the-art animatronic models and they're not programmed to bite—although they may spit water you.

My son and I recently went and really enjoyed it. I also noticed that the other adults in our group seemed to have just as much fun as their kids. Dinosaur Safari was definitely the highlight of our day at the zoo and he's been begging to go back ever since. Read on to learn more about our Dinosaur Safari experience including important tips to help you get the most out of your visit.

Tiny You in Queens: Popular Sunnyside Kids' Boutique Opens New Long Island City Location

Submitted by Kelly O on Sun, 07/14/2013 - 10:00am

As a lifelong Queens resident with a toddler and a preschooler at home, Tiny You in Sunnyside has been my go-to children's boutique since I became a mom. Opened by a neighborhood family, the adorable shop specializes in clothing and toys made by local and independent designers, and offers occasional classes. In addition to the cute selection, I love going to Tiny You because it means I'm shopping locally and keeping my money in my community.

Tiny You has gotten so popular that owner Jill Callan has opened a second store in Long Island City, Queens. It's a really exciting addition to the area, which has lots of great things to do for families but not a lot of children's shops. My family and I recently visited the new store and were really impressed. At 700-square-feet, it is much larger than the Sunnyside original, and hosts a variety of classes and special events. Here's some of what you'll find at the brand-new Tiny You in Long Island City, Queens.

Best Seafood Shacks: Roadside Beach Restaurants in Los Angeles

Submitted by Martha Hall on Sat, 07/13/2013 - 3:15am

It's the end of a long and lovely day at the beach, and you can't quite brush the last of the sand off your shins. You're sunburned and pooped, with a mop of sea salty hair blown dry by the wind. Everyone's famished, but let's face it: a nice restaurant just won't have you and your bedraggled lot. What to do, oh weary surf dwellers? Why not head to a roadside fish joint. Lucky for us, we have a few fab and affordable ones along our slice of the coast.These eateries won't mind your flip flops, and the menu variety is sure to please everyone in your crew.

This Week: Free in NYC Guide, Drop-off Summer Playdates, Things to Do in Fort Tryon Park, Jedi Classes for Kids

Submitted by Raven Snook on Thu, 07/11/2013 - 1:00pm

Every year around this time I start to feel like I'm the only New Yorker left in NYC. I was on a Fifth Avenue bus yesterday and it sounded like the Tower of Babel (even more so than usual). My family and I actually love sticking around the city in the summer because there are so many wonderful things to do, many of them FREE. And I was reminded of that as we put together our Free in NYC Kids Guide this week. This brand-new guide lists no-cost things to do and places to go in the five boroughs throughout the year, but the section on free summer fun is particularly robust. So the next time you're trying to plan a no-cost NYC outing, you know where to look.

Of course I can't deny the appeal of a quick summer getaway. In addition to checking our NYC Day Trips Guide for inspiration, it's worth perusing our regional sites for ideas. Our Westchester site just rounded up 25 things to do in Pelham; our New Jersey site profiled the Watchung Reservation; the annual Sailfest hits the water near New London this weekend, Connecticut and blueberry picking is on at farms throughout the tri-state area. If you do go out of town, be sure to download a few of these apps to keep preschoolers busy in the car, on a plane or even if you just need a few minutes to yourself at home.

And a quick shout out on behalf of our Long Island site, which is on the hunt for a few good bloggers. If you're an LI expert who fits the bill, we encourage you to apply!

Here's what else we covered on our NYC site this week, including details about a new drop-off summer playdate program by Project Playdate that Mommy Poppins is co-sponsoring.

Fun and Free Things to Do with Kids in Boston - FunFest, Outside the Box and More

Submitted by Audrey Trieschman on Thu, 07/11/2013 - 10:30am

Boston families will find plenty of fun and free things to do in and around town this weekend. Take advantage of the great outdoors and head to the Circle the City festivities at Franklin Park, or the WGBH FunFest in Boston. New this summer is Outside the Box, a nine-day summer performing arts festival, that offers a variety of children’s entertainers - musicians, dancers, magicians, puppeteers, arts and crafts workshops, and more.

Looking for more things to do? Find out what's new at the zoos this summer - Franklin Park, Stone, Roger Williams Park and Southwick Zoos. Plus, Kristin reviews the work that was done to improve the New England Aquarium. Tara has the scoop on watching the PawSox games at McCoy Stadium, Pawtucket - a family-friendly, budget-friendly alternative to Fenway. And of course, we all love reading to our kids, but sometimes it's just so nice to listen to someone else read to them for a change.

Read on for more of our weekend picks, and be sure to check our Events Calendar for more ideas.

Fun & Free Things to Do with LA Kids this Weekend: Circus, Physics Garden & the OC Fair, July 13 - 14

Submitted by Toby B on Thu, 07/11/2013 - 6:48am

It's all about the kids, isn't it? You do and do for them, find them the coolest water playgrounds, take them on picnics, treat them to the most delectable frozen delights, and take them to kids' clubs, kids' concerts, and kids run the bases. And just when you think you've done all you can do, you take a look at our summer guide and come up with a dozen more things to keep your kids happy and entertained. But what's in it for you? What does Momma get? How 'bout maybe a free blowout?

Of course, things work out best when kids and parents can enjoy the same things. Outdoor concerts (check), free movies (popcorn check), a Pirate Festival (aaarrrr! check), the Grease Sing-Along at the Hollywood Bowl (Sandy and Danny check), the OC Fair (deep fried check), Ringling Brothers and Barnum Bailey Circus (check with a big red rubber nose, shot from a cannon). Luckily our weekend calendar is filled to the brim with activities that everyone will love. And one that's especially for Mom.

Keep reading for some of our favorite picks for this weekend, and to find out about that free blowout...