When the IDNYC cards debuted last month, there was a lot of excitement. In fact, so many people wanted the FREE municipal identification cards, the city couldn’t handle the demand. A website was launched for booking application appointments online, but it had glitches, and soon slots through the summer were all filled up. But this week, the city opened new enrollment centers, which means suddenly appointments are available—but don’t hesitate! I was just able to snag a slot for the end of March, but these new appointments will likely book up fast. Click over to nyc.gov to make an appointment now, and then come back and read our tips and answers to frequently asked questions about IDNYC.

If you have kids in the 7-18 age range, I'll bet you've heard of Minecraft. When I asked my daughter to define it, she said, "Mom, it's basically a game about placing blocks to build anything your brain can imagine." I was not sold right off the bat, but as she played, I saw that there could be educational benefits--as long as parents set playing guidelines. Here are some great classes, clubs and camps that will get you revved up for Minecraft Madness in New Jersey.

It’s Valentine’s week! With all the ice and snow in New Jersey, maybe you’re not feeling the love for this time of year. When you check out all the great events going on this week, we think you’ll warm up to the season. Rejoice in everything Valentine at Shore Cake Supplies’ Valentine’s Day Cooking Class and The Bounce Factory’s Toddler Valentine’s Day Party. It’s a week for musical fun at Mini Music Mondays at Maxwells and a performance of The Rainbow Fish at Mayo Performing Arts Center. And don’t forget to check out our event calendar for even more weekday and weekend events.

Oh the drama! What dark circumstances will emerge on Friday the 13th? Remember when you were a kid and waited all day for something bad to happen? In my house, as there’s a birthday involved, it will be a day of celebration; we are not anticipating disaster or distress. If you don’t have the distraction of a birthday, divert their attention from the day’s bad mojo by checking out our events calendar. There are many cool ways to sit out this evil day. Thursday the 12th is pretty great. It’s impossible to pick just one thing when two of the options are Mo Willems and Antique Sewing Machines.

While the snow might be keeping most of Long Island indoors, there's no need to suffer from cabin fever. This week is all about getting ready to celebrate Valentine's Day with an array of crafts for kids of all ages. There's also yoga for kids who want a good stretch and games, movies and more for the preschool set.

Of course, this list is just our top picks--be sure to check out our Long Island Events Calendar regularly as it is always being updated. And to receive this post right into your inbox, sign up for our newsletter, which is now going out twice a week (Mondays and Thursdays).

Here's our collection of fun and creative Valentines activities to do this week. Although we only highlight one activity per day in this post, you can find plenty of other options in our Event Calendar. This week you can enjoy a special tea, painting and some yoga poses.. If you're planning beyond this week, be sure to check our February Go List, which has 20 of our favorite events across the state throughout the month. Of course, our Indoor Play Guide has many fun ideas too. Editor's Note: Some of these events may be canceled or postponed by the occasionally unpredictable winter weather. Always call the venue first to confirm. Stay warm and safe!

It’s a busy month for local venues in Westchester, with lots of events happening—and not just on weekends! Below, we bring you our weekly installment of our top pick for each weekday. 

This week, many of our favorites happen to be geared towards teens—like Coding Club, Teen Yoga and Heart-Shaped Baskets: Teen Valentine--but click through to our Events Calendar for daily picks for the younger set as well. There you’ll find a variety of activities, including Valentine Crafts for Kids, Miss Kat’s Crazy Winter Fun Days, Toddler Movie Morning and more.

As an added perk, all our top picks for this week are FREE! Read on, click through and check them out.

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