One of the harder things about being a parent to a preteen with special needs is playdates–or lack thereof. Due to his specific needs, I can't just drop him off. Instead, I end up hosting playdates and doing all of the work. And frankly, most of his peers without special needs don't really like the idea of a playdate anymore. They just go around by themselves, something my son isn't ready to do.

But I don't want my son to miss out on valuable social interactions. Playdates help him forge relationships and learn typical social cues. That's why I'm so glad I found The Friendship Circle, a nonprofit organization that pairs teen volunteers with children with special needs for fun and friendship.

We continue our month-long focus on Washington Heights and Inwood with a look at our favorite places to eat with kids in the area. While both neighborhoods are known for their hundreds of acres of parkland and fun things to do with kids, neither is considered a culinary hot spot. But there are some delicious kid-friendly restaurants if you know where to look, and many are owned and operated by local families. From a new soda fountain serving up retro treats, to a 24-hour Dominican mainstay to fine-dining with incredible views in Fort Tryon Park, here are a dozen family-friendly restaurants in Washington Heights and Inwood.

When drug stores and supermarkets start selling sweets right at the checkout counter, an honored American tradition starts to die - the local candy shop. Luckily, the geographical pockets of the Hamptons that cling to nostalgia still boast small, independently owned stores. Jars of colorful penny candy and homemade fudge are available. Nothing says summer like a little bag of sweets after dinner. Here are our picks for the best candy shops in the Hamptons and North Fork to satisfy every sweet tooth.

#subaruforester
In the 90s my father was in a fender bender on the Henry Hudson Highway. His little car was totalled, but the SUV that rear ended him was completely fine. My dad wanted to be the SUV guy next time, so he went and got a Subaru Forester. We loved our boxy Forester and when it died my stepmother got another one that was exactly the same. So, when I was offered a brand new 2014 Subaru to test drive, I was thrilled to check out the complete makeover of our beloved Foresters. Would I love it even more or would the new fangled Subaru Forester not live up to my loving memories?

This weekend has lots of fun in store with music and cultural festivals, a pop concert, family science fun and Legos! Peekskill hosts their annual Jazz & Blues Festival this weekend and Legoland Discovery Center's Lego Legends of Chima event is going on all weekend. On Saturday, Gate Hill Day Camp opens its doors to give you a taste of their camp experience and Rye Playland continues their concert series with pop band R5. On Sunday, Hudson River Museum hosts their Family Sunday series with Spin, Pop...Boom! science demonstration and the annual Jewish Heritage Festival is happening at Kensico Dam Plaza in Valhalla.

If you see an event that piques your interest, be sure to click through to our calendar of events for all the details. And remember, our event calendar has info on lots more happening this weekend.