The end of summer could make a grown man cry, let alone your kids.  So, before you pore over your options for After School Computer Coding classes, or become slave to the AYSO calendar, consider that, if you let it, summer could have one last blast.  Take advantage of that September sun, with one or more things from our list ...  you technically have until the 21st before it ends! The Enrichment Classes Guide will be here when you get back.  We promise.

New York City kids are privy to some of the best museums in the world, and this week, the city's cultural institutions seemed to be trying to outdo one another with great family programming.

The New York Hall of Science launched a suite of apps poised to bring STEM-inspired fun straight to your iPad, while the Staten Island Museum's new location at the Snug Harbor Cultural Center prepares for a grand-opening, Lincoln Center expanded free family programming to the outer boroughs and the Metropolitan Opera kicked off its late Summer Festival lineup.

In other news, don't pack away your sunblock just yet. For the first time in decades, NYC beaches will remain open past Labor Day! With additional funding for lifeguards and other beach workers, New Yorkers can now enjoy the city beaches through Sunday, September 13. NYC public pools, however, still close on Labor Day.

Read on for more news throughout the five boroughs.

Summer can't last forever, although that certainly would be swell. It's Back to School time and for many kids, that also means "Back to Cool." As in, what styles for boys and gals are cool and hip for the new academic year? We rounded up the best independent clothing stores in New Jersey--both storefront and online--and asked what kids under 10 are shopping for this days. (We also learned Montclair dominates the indie fashion scene for kids!) Here's the feedback; and be sure to check out our September GOList to make this the best month ever.

Summer is touted as the best season to enjoy the great outdoors, with its barbecues, pool parties and sunshine. But I personally think autumn is the perfect time to venture outside - the air is crisp and the leaves are changing to vibrant hues of yellow, red and orange. We're at that sweet spot of the year where the heat has subsided but temperatures aren't cold enough to keep us indoors. You can pick pumpkins, stargaze, or head to an NJ park to look at the brilliant fall foliage.

Gala. Honeycrisp. Cortland. Liberty. McIntosh and Macoun. It just wouldn't be autumn in Connecticut without a delicious apple-picking adventure. For most families, it means enjoying the outdoors on a beautiful autumn day, road tripping with friends, or eating nothing but cider donuts and apples for three straight hours (and the inevitable-but-oh-so-worth-it stomachache that follows). If you are heading out to pick straight from the tree, call ahead to see what's available, but meanwhile, check out our Apple Picking Guide, which includes farms all over the state. Below are some wonderful family-owned orchards to consider in Eastern Connecticut:

We've already stocked up on back-to-school supplies from new backpacks to jeans, but now comes the fun part: books! 

If you have voracious summer readers, it's likely your kids are already complaining that they’ve read everything. Or maybe you want to inspire a less than enthusiastic reader to kick off the 2015-2016 academic year on a wordy note.

Either way, Mommy Poppins has put together a list of more than a dozen books for kids of all ages, from preschool to high school, that were published within the last year, and, based on the awards they've already won, seem destined to become future classics. So pull up a comfy chair, whip out that library card and read on. You might just find a new family favorite.

My kids are five and seven and both attend public school. I’m amazed at how much is expected of them at such an early age. In addition to rigorous academics, students are expected to sit still for huge portions of the day—not easy for active kids like mine! We stay busy with activities like hiking and ice skating, and of course, we love all the indoor play spaces Westchester has to offer. Still, I wanted a class where my kids could learn some new skills. Nothing too regimented—I wanted to balance out the school stress, not add to it. My kids needed a class that would let them get their wiggles out, help them become strong and confident and, most of all, have some silly fun. Luckily, we've found a great place to combat the Common Core blues: the circus!

Do you have a budding artist or historian? We have the perfect party ideas for them! You won’t be disappointed with the choices Hartford's Party Guide has to offer. Whether it be a bounce house, air or trolley museum, we've listed ten fun places to throw your next soiree.