Since Sunday is Father's Day, I know what I'll be doing: Hanging out with my wife and sons, hoping I can convince them to see Green Lantern instead of Mr. Popper's Penguins.

Being a dad means even Father's Day is a bit of a compromise. But if you need a reminder that these days will end sooner than you think, watch the moving documentary The Kids Grow Up by Doug Block, which premieres on HBO on Father's Day.

Like me, Block is a NYC dad, and his film chronicles the life of his only child, Lucy, who's about to leave for college. My sons are still in elementary school, so the movie examined uncharted territory for me. Here's how I felt about the flick.

Father's Day is our day to celebrate all of the things we love about Dads. This weekend, no matter what kind of Dad you're dealing with, we've got lots of suggestions for things to do. Read on for ideas that will make this Father's Day extra special and fun.

Summer in the city is all about free alfresco entertainment. There are complimentary concerts (for kids and grown-ups), no-cost movies and lots of free festivals.

But don't forget about free storytimes in city parks! Because you know your kids don't want to hear a tale told in a hot, crowded library. (And even if your local branch is swanky enough to have air conditioning, your children shouldn't be cooped up indoors.)

We've rounded up a dozen storytelling series for families to enjoy all summer long.

Staten Island has long been known as the "forgotten borough"—it's always last whenever the five are mentioned. Yes, you have to take a boat (or an express bus) to get here. Yes, once you arrive, the public transportation is spotty (although that's the case in "the city," too. Ever ride the M34?) And yes, we've tried to secede from time to time. But as a born and bred Staten Island girl (pronounced "Sta'nylan," thank you very much), I'm here to tell you that there's so much more to do than just ride the iconic ferry.

Mommy Poppins has written many posts about Staten Island over the years, encouraging families to explore the "greenest borough," and now's the perfect time to visit: In honor of its 350th anniversary, NYC & Company, the Big Apple's official marketing organization, has chosen Staten Island as its Culture Spot of the month. That means you can enjoy two-for-one admission to five famous SI institutions, including the Staten Island Museum and Historic Richmond Town, until the end of June.

But why stop there? I've rounded up 13 fun, family-friendly things to do on Staten Island, along with links to what we've written about each attraction.

Wouldn't your little writer love visiting Louise May Alcott's Orchard House or Walden Pond this summer? What a great road trip for your tweens and teens! This itinerary given to me by Corrine Upton over at the Mark Twain House has covered it all starting in Hartford and finishing up in Boston. Over the course of five days (or less, for those who are ambitious), visit the birthplace of Mark Twain’s most famous characters, get inspired by Edith Wharton’s landscape design, and visit the grave sites of Thoreau, Hawthorne, Emerson and Alcott at Author’s Ridge at Sleepy Hollow.  
 
Below, you'll find the full itinerary of a New England literary pilgrimage-- offering a unique, inspiring and educational summer vacation. And if you'd like even more fun literary locales check out more destinations like Dr. Seuss' Sculpture Garden, the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art and Emily Dickinson's house all in Western Mass.

Unlike the Curious George exhibit at the Jewish Museum last year, which focused on the creators Margret and H.A. Rey and was really aimed at adults, the Children's Museum of Manhattan's Curious George: Let’s Get Curious! is totally for little monkeys.

The brand-new interactive installation was designed by the Minnesota Children’s Museum, and uses the iconic kid-lit character as the catalyst for hands-on explorations of math, science and engineering.

It's a really fun exhibit (my kindergartner is already begging to go back) that invites kids to learn through adventure-—ust like their favorite inquisitive little primate.

Here's how my son and I spent our time at Curious George: Let’s Get Curious! at CMOM.

Dads are all different. So for Father's Day, we've rounded up eclectic ways to celebrate the particular patriarch of your family.

Whether he's sporty, artsy or an overgrown kid, we've got plenty of ideas to choose from so you can make Sunday, June 19 extra memorable.

Read on for suggestions (all free or inexpensive) to suit every kind of dad. Happy Father’s Day!

I'm not going to knock the Mister Softee truck. It's certainly kept my kids (and at times, me) cool and happy on many sticky days.

But soft-serve isn't the only sweet summer treat in town. New York City is full of delicious ways to cool down. Take your kids on an international tour of our melting pot's tastiest icy treats—that aren’t ice cream.