School is mostly closed on Monday, in observance of the Jewish New Year. While we wish a happy day to those who will be in temple, many of us now have the luxury of a three day weekend, or the pleasant problem of figuring out what to do with this day off (which, though not unexpected, takes many of us by surprise every time). Although winding down for the season, the Annenberg Beach House has a pop-up pool day on Monday. This is not a discounted dollar day, but I think $10 per adult and $4 per kid is a worthwhile expense during this heat wave. And of course there are always water parks.

It’s mid-September, and before you know it, you’ll be budgeting for holiday shopping. Take advantage of all the fun freebies offered this week, including Chatham Library’s Fall Fruits, Barnes and Noble Monday Morning Storytime, Tykes Tuesday at Deptford Skating and Colts Neck Library’s Read to the Therapy Dogs. Celebrate the week’s end at St. Benedict Parish Carnival with free admission. And don’t forget to check out our Event Calendar for even more options!

Every year a mom at our school makes these fabulous Halloween cookies and I've always wanted to try them myself. They're such a simple, clever idea and I love that they're not overly sweet with lots frosting like most theme cookies are. Feel free to improvise on the recipe. Some people add a little green food coloring or paint the fingernails. You can also add red gel to the "severed" ends or put some strawberry jam under the fingernails. Get creative.

September is in full swing, and just because school is back in session doesn't mean the fun times are over. This week, there are festivals, feasts and classes. In fact, if you're looking for more after-school and weekend enrichment for the kids, be sure to take a look at our Long Island Classes Guide.

And remember, this list is only our favorites for the week. You can find much more to keep the family occupied on our Long Island Events Calendar.

If I had to pick my family's favorite rainy day activity, I'd have to say it's reading. We all love books, whether we're reading alone, together, or out loud. But every once in a while, it's nice to sit back and listen to someone spin a yarn. Thankfully, there are some great storytelling programs on the calendar this week. Going to see a storyteller perform in Faneuil Hall is a great excuse to check out the nearby public market that opened in the Haymarket this summer. If you prefer to get the whole family moving, a family-friendly dance party on the Greenway offers free lessons and live music starting on Wednesday. What fun!

Whatever you decide to do this week, don't forget to check the full Event Calendar for other exciting happenings.

With public schools closed for Rosh Hashanah on Monday and Tuesday, you and the kids might be looking for a few more things to do, so we've added extra options for cool family activities happening this long weekend. Whether you're looking for one last blast of summer or ready to jump into fall, we've got you covered with the best activities and destinations for families every single day.

Our weekday event picks for Monday, September 14-Friday, September 18, include the debut of the Children's Museum of the Arts' latest exhibit, a guided nature tour on Randall's Island and an alfresco film screening. Of course, you can find lots of other ideas in our jam-packed Event Calendar. Enjoy those extra days off and for everyone celebrating the Jewish New Year, Shanah Tovah!

Happy New Year to all our readers celebrating Rosh Hashanah. May the coming year be filled with love, friendship, and joy! This week we've collected all kinds of activities including a terrific program at the Stamford Museum and Nature Center for anyone who is home from school on Monday. We've also tracked down a free Zumba class, an agricultural fair, and more. Be sure to check the full Event Calendar for more fun things to do!

What's the first thing my family does to prepare for Halloween season? No, not make costumes or crafts or plan out our calendar. Our very first activity is to throw out all the stale candy my daughter has been hanging on to since last October 31.

Whatever you do with your child's Halloween haul—donate, repurpose, hoard or eat—there's no question that trick-or-treaters collect way too much candy. And while I'm glad my kid doesn't actually ingest it all, many children do, and the health implications of that are pretty scary.

So this year I'm not going to be part of the candy craze. Instead, I plan to give out small, fun, non-edible treats, like the kinds of tchotchkes you might find in a birthday goody bag. (So if you have any of those lying around the house, start gathering them up now.) Yes, I realize these things may end up sitting around as long as last year's candy, but since they don't go bad I can always hand them out again next Halloween.

Here are some cool things to hand out on Halloween besides candy that won't get you egged.