Spring on Long Island is in full effect and we have some great activities and events for you here. Get ready to put on your dancing shoes, wear 3D glasses or spot salamanders! With festivals, concerts and tea parties all taking place, there is something for every member of the family to get out of the house and enjoy! Read on see what awesome events are going on this weekend on Long Island!

Don't worry: The inclement weather is just temporary. Spring really is here, and there are plenty of seasonal activities to prove it. New baby goats are frolicking at the Central Park Zoo, gardening clases for kids are sprouting up everywhere (one program kicks off at the Queens Botanical Garden this Saturday) and Macy's Flower Show will be in full bloom come Sunday.

JapanNYC, a citywide celebration of Japanese culture, continues with a trio of free concerts, including Taiko drummers at the opening of the Flower Show. Of course while you enjoy yourself, don't forget about the devastation in Japan. If you'd like to help, we've rounded up easy and reputable ways to donate to the relief and rebuilding efforts.

Our best bets for the weekend are below. Be sure to browse the Mommy Poppins Events Calendar for additional options, including live music, theater, author readings and free storytimes. Have a great weekend!

Your child wants to model? Easy, right? There’s agencies and photographers everywhere, reality show castings, extra opportunities…shouldn’t be too difficult, right? Well, think again.  The good news is we’ll give you the inside track on how to get your little top model into the industry; the bad news is that there are more scams and rip-off artists lurking in wait than ever before.  So…read on, and ready yourself for the rocky road to the runway.

It's been a while since we've rounded up links to important news and interesting stories we've come across online. Since many of these articles are timely—especially the ones about pre-k and charter school admissions—we figured it was time to share.

We also found an amusing post about the top ten reasons to have a baby in NYC, a celebration of public-school lunches and a writer who offers an intriguing defense of that mom who's suing a preschool for dashing her daughter's Ivy League chances. Read on for the scoop.

Now that the weather's so lovely (most of the time, anyway), there are so many things to do, including trips to the Central Park Zoo. My toddler loves looking at all the animals, especially the babies. Even though it was cold and rainy when we visited on Monday, we were still thrilled to meet the Zoo's latest additions, four baby mini-Nubian goats that just made their debut at the Children's Zoo!

There's Cole, a spunky one-month-old, plus three other as-yet-unnamed babies: caramel-colored, two-week-old twins and another kid. Get ready to coo at the adorable photos (which were taken last week on a warm and sunny day), and find out more about these babes.

Last week it was all about St. Patrick's Day and yesterday we highlighted a series of amazing Japanese cultural events. But starting April 1 the kilts come out as NYC goes a wee bit Scottish in honor of Tartan Week.

While some of the events, like a parade with thousands of bagpipers and a festival filled with music, dance and games, only happen once a year, there are other ways to celebrate the culture year-round. Here's how to get Scottish in the city with your clan.

New York City is a great town for exposing your kids to different cultures. You can eat at Indian restaurants, celebrate Mexican Dia de los Meurtos and enjoy lots of other activities. This Spring, the city's hosting two fantastic Japanese events. The first is JapanNYC, a citywide cultural festival, which we originally told you about back in December, and Hanami, the cherry blossom viewing season.

The recent earthquake and subsequent tsunami that ravaged Japan on March 11 will certainly affect these upcoming celebrations, but that makes it an even more significant time to learn about the country's traditions and arts.

If you'd like to make a monetary donation toward the disaster relief effort, we've rounded up reputable and super-easy ways to contribute. Every little bit helps. So as we celebrate Japanese culture here in NYC, please don't forget the disaster that has forever changed that country and its people.

The devastation in Japan has been tremendous. It's hard not to be transfixed by the awful images and details. There are tales of hope (the one about the four-month-old rescued from rubble totally choked me up), but the main stories dominating the news (and our minds) are heartrending.

Just like the tragedy in Haiti last year, families want to help. Making a monetary donation is the easiest way to do that, but choosing a charity can be daunting. In fact, Slate and the New York Times ran articles encouraging people to give but to do it wisely. (The takeaway: Give but do so without restrictions; let the organizations figure out how to use the money.)

Instead of just posting links to the usual nonprofits (we figure you already know about the Red Cross, Americares and Doctors Without Borders), we've found some great articles with info about reputable organizations and donating tips. In some cases you can help just by liking a page on Facebook or sending a text!