Play Date: Activities for Sept. 25, 2008

Want to play? Here's what's happening today.

Play:
Get free Ice Cream at Stone Cold Creameries today from 5 to 8pm. Although not required, guests are encouraged to make a donations for the Make a Wish Foundation to help terminally ill children. To find the Cold Stone Creamery location nearest you, go to www.coldstonecreamery.com.

Buy:
Kids Rx, the child-focused, alternative pharmacy is opening a new location in Park Slope. Kids Rx specializes in flavoring medications and serving them up in palatable forms that kids can, well, swallow. Rather than struggle to get the pills down, Kids Rx offers medications in lollipop, gummy bear, pudding and other kid-friendly forms. There is a $5 flavoring fee, but otherwise your prescription will cost the same as filling it at any other drug store, and they do take insurance.

Mommy Poppins Class Discount-A-Thon

holapic.jpg

Still haven't signed up for any kid-classes? Whether you are dragging your feet cause you're feeling the money pinch or your just can't commit, here is an incentive to get you going. We reached out to some great NYC programs and asked them to give our readers a deal on fall 2008 classes and they delivered.

Keep reading to get special discount codes for tons of programs including: !Hola¡ Playgroup in Spanish (pictured above), Elf Tennis, The Little Gym, Kids at Work, Play Together NYC, 92nd St Y, TADA! and more.

Our Halloween Guide and Photo Contest Are Here!

200809222229.jpg
 
How much do you love Halloween? Cute, costumes, candy, and seeing the city transform into a big playground for kids. This Halloween we're bringing you not just a great guide on everything fun for kids in New York, but also a great contest with lots of big prizes.
 
The Contest:
Just send us pictures of your cutie in their Halloween costume and you'll be entered to win one of these amazing prizes:

200809222237.jpg200809222237.jpg200809222238.jpg

We've got a family portrait session with amazing photographer Jeff Cassuto, a Jeep Overland Limited Jogging Stroller and a Baby Gift Package from Giggle, plus more and we want to give them to you.

Share your pictures and win! Click to read more, or upload your photos here.

 

The Guide
The best Halloween Parades for kids, the top places to Trick or Treat in NYC, (not too scary) Haunted Houses, and more. Find it all out in our Halloween Fun Guide.

Linkin B'logs - Ear Orgasms, School Report Cards, Trader Joe's comes to Brooklyn and More

All that bad news last week has me totally burned out on politics and the economy right now so keep reading for a lighter take on this week's news (with the exception of the school report cards, but hey, thats something that is pretty near to all our hearts).

Report Cards for Schools. If you haven't already checked, take a look at the results of the 2007-08 NYC Department of Education report cards for every school in the city. The letter grades which range from A to F are based on the school environment, student performance and student progress. Then check out the inside schools blogs to read up on the debate on the report cards.

Mo' Joe.  Trader Joe's is coming to Brooklyn with a store opening

New York Apple Picking and Fall Festivals

[UPDATED: 9/21/08]

Growing up in New York City, one of our family traditions was going apple picking in the Hudson Valley every Fall. It's a tradition I've enjoying continuing with my own kids because it's a great day out in the country, it's economical (considering the price of apples from FreshDirect), and it's even trendy (if you're into the locavore thing). It's a great activity for Columbus Day Weekend, but there are also a bunch of free Apple Festivals right here in NYC if you don't feel like taking the kids traveling.

Story Pirates Comedy Shows for Kids

Picture 16.png

September 19th is International Talk Like a Pirate Day (but really, can't Pirates pretty much just board and take over any day they want?) and to celebrate we thought we'd share a really cool program we just heard about. The Striking Viking Story Pirates are a terrific comedy troop that have nothing to do with pirates except that they steal their ideas from kids stories, comics or barely-legible sentences, and turn them into ridiculous shows performed by puppets and costumed grown ups who wish they were kids, or puppets, or both. Jon Stewart raved about it on Larry King (You know, that crazy, fun kid show) and I'm raving now, in piratese. So avast, me hearties, go smartly and purview the Striking Viking Story Pirates 'ere I slap your bung hole with a hornpipe, aye!

Free Fun Friday - Kids Film Festival, Historic House Festival, Maize Mazes and More


Stills from films to be shown at the Jackson Heights Film Festival
 

If you do one thing this weekend, head over to the 3rd annual Jackson Heights Kids Film Fest where you can catch 14 short children's films, many of which are award-winning and hot off the film festival circuit. This year's selections include films that explore themes of both American and immigrant life, the avant-guard and classic video games. Held at the Eagle Theater, Jackson Height's very own Bollywood venue, the event draws families in search of a kid-friendly afternoon of movies that go far beyond the usual Disney fare. Really, where else can you watch a range of cool short films while munching on a samosa and holding your toddler in your lap? As an added bonus, after the films join the post screening dance party with the Opus Ditty band. $10 (kids under 10 free) Sunday. 10:30AM - 12 PM.

Plus....

Free Outdoor Fun - New Exhibit at the Socrates Sculpture Park

IMG_0335.JPGAll signs are pointing towards a really depressing economy but as bad as it may get, the kids still need fun stuff to do! Which is where we come in, we promise you that NY remains a great place with kids and there are loads of great free activities so please don't go running now that the stock market is tanking. Stick with us and we will keep churning out great ideas on how to spend your days where all you need is a metro card and some PB&J's in your bag.

Pages