UPDATED: 9/10/12 Many of us are looking for things to do on 9/11 with the family.
The 11th anniversary is upon us and the heartbreak is still there as memories resurface. While 5 months pregnant, I was planning on taking my 3 year old son up to Central Park Zoo on that stunningly beautiful day. We lived on the Hudson River, 2 blocks from Ground Zero in Battery Park City. We experienced the tragedy as it unfolded minute by minute. We didn't know the towers had fallen until we were half way across the Hudson River on a rescue boat. I happened to look up and caught the second tower crumbling to the ground. For weeks, months and even years later we lived and breathed in the aftermath alongside our neighbors and friends. Through the tragedy we experienced the strength and love that can be created in a community of neighbors and strangers. We also gained a whole new appreciation for life that can only be found once you are so close to losing it.

We live in Connecticut now and my children understand the importance of the anniversary each year. We plan to attend a local memorial service and to review the photos and diary that I kept during the days (and years) afterwards; we'll also peruse the kids' 9/11 artwork that I have saved. We will never forget. Here's a listing of child friendly events that are occurring around the state so that your family doesn't forget either.

Most NYC kids went back to school this week, including all of ours (that's my daughter and her long-time pal in the pic, both going into second grade). The energy in our schoolyard was palpable today. We hope your kid's first day was equally exciting.

Although quality family time is harder to find in the fall, there are still lots of great ways to come together on the weekends. Autumn brings fun festivals, cool kids' concerts and apple picking outings. We recently updated our roundups of the best pick-your-own-apple places on Long Island, in New Jersey and Connecticut, and we even have a post about low-spray apple farms.

Even though school has started, we continue to add handy posts to our Back-to-School Guide, like money-saving supply tips and more do-it-yourself fashion and supply ideas, perfect projects for a rainy day.

And if you're already planning your next family getaway (hey, NYC public school kids have a four-day holiday coming up next weekend!), our Travel site is doing a series of posts on the Poconos in Pennsylvania, including a Bushkill Falls Waterfalls Hike, a slide show of the adorable residents of Claws "N" Paws Animal Park and a look at the lovely Skytop Lodge.

Here's what else happened this week on the NYC site.

All the kids back to school? You might be taking it easy this first weekend since school has started, but in case you're still looking for family activities, there's plenty to do. There's a Fiddle & Folk Festival at Benner's Farm, Cirque du Soleil's Dralion is in town, the ChickenKidz consignment event is on in Riverhead, and there are various shows on for kids and families. Have a great weekend.

My daughter is an only child and an only grandchild on my husband’s side, so it was my mission to combat her selfishness early by getting her involved in community service young and often. There are so many great ways to get children, even very young ones, involved in community service, especially as we approach National Day of Service on September 11. Long Island has a great many charities that children can support, and starting young will help your child become ware of all she/he can be grateful for and how to give to those who are not as fortunate.

I have a confession to make. You know how the last few weeks I've been complaining about the end of summer and the incomprehensibly early start of school? Finally last week I gave in. I relented. Labor Day came and went, and even I had to admit it was time to go back to school. But then I realized...

... no one in my house is in school yet. We're still at the pre-school phase. In other words: September, Shmeptember, it's all the same to us. Which brings me to a new complaint:  what about us? Where’s the love for those of us too young to mark the passage of time by semesters?

Someone must have heard my whining musing, because this week we can point you towards events that even our youngest fans can enjoy.  There’s a G-rated movie, an outdoor concert series just for kids, and the grand opening of a Disney Store designed for the under 2 set. And in honor of Grandparents Day, there are special events that juniors can share with their favorite seniors.

There are still plenty of events for the rest of you big kids: East Hollywood Artcycle, Brazilian Day in LA, Tchaikovsky served up with fireworks,  a surfing competition in Malibu,  festivals of lobsters and tall ships, even Batman and Robin’s stage debut. So get out there and live it up this weekend, but please be quiet when you do: we're taking a nap.

Keep reading for some of our favorite picks for this weekend...

Most of us are in full back-to-school mode, mired in homework and carpooling to lessons and sports. However, cherished autumn events are starting to take place from the northwest corner to the eastern shore. Don't miss out on the fun this weekend!

Is it horrible for me to admit that I'm excited my son started school this week? Yes I miss him but I enjoy being able to work without him constantly asking, "When are we going to go out and do something?!" We still have the weekends for fun, and this one's jam-packed with awesome annual events we look forward to every year like the West Side County Fair, Arthur Avenue’s Ferrogosto, Wave Hill’s Honey Weekend, the Coney Island Kite Festival and the no-cost Broadway on Broadway concert. Plus, apple picking season is in full swing.

On a more somber note, families can commemorate the 11th anniversary of September 11 at Saturday's Brooke Jackman Read-A-Thon or the JCC in Manhattan’s Day of Service on Sunday.

Our best bets for the weekend are below, and you can check our Event Calendar for lots of other options.