As a mom of two young boys, I’m always on the lookout for fun and interesting classes that will not only keep them occupied and entertained, but also help them learn something. And now that my older son is in kindergarten full-time, I need to find something to do with my younger boy, who is really missing his big brother during the day.

There’s certainly no shortage of places on Long Island offering different types of programs and workshops, so it takes something truly unique to catch my interest. Full disclosure here: I also wouldn’t mind if I could find the class fun, too. After all, these programs aren’t cheap, so I don’t want to spend the hour bored out of my mind. Luckily for me, just when I started my search, info about our sponsor bubble came across my desk. When I took a look at its selection of workshops and classes, I knew I had to check it out.

The humidity has dropped, high temps are just reaching the low 70s and the official start of fall is around the corner. Enjoy this sweet spot of the year before it gets too chilly with an outdoor activity: pick some juicy ripe apples during Fall Family Fun Days at Alstede Farms, sample schnitzel and listen to authentic German music at the Crystal Springs Oktoberfest or take the kiddos out to a minor league ballgame at TD Bank Ball Park.  For more fresh air fun, check out the NJ Storytelling Festival at the beautiful Grounds for Sculpture or take a Migration Walk at Stony Brook-Millstone Reserve. And remember, you can check out the full list of weekend activities in our Event Calendar.

Midtown East may not be the first neighborhood that pops into your head when you picture a day out in a lovely park or an indoor play date at a cool romping spot. But once you get past the steel and concrete office buildings, you'll find a handful of great green spaces in the eastern part of the district. More impressively, there's a plethora of indoor destinations where kids can play for FREE like the hands-on high-tech Sony Wonder Technology Lab, the Children's Center at 42nd Street at the New York Public Library and Nintendo World. And if you're willing to shell out a few bucks, there's also the one-of-a-kind play space Heimbold Family Children’s Playing and Learning Center at Scandinavia House.

Here are the top indoor and outdoor drop-in play spots for kids in Midtown East.

Rosh Hashanah is the annual Jewish New Year Celebration. In 2014, it begins at sundown on Wednesday, September 24th and ends at nightfall on Friday, September 26th. In observation of this festive holiday of apples and honey, many public school districts in Fairfield County are closed on Thursday and/or Friday. Whether you plan to spend those days celebrating with your family (at the Congregation for Humanistic Judiasm's family service in Westport, for example) or are instead focusing on apple picking, pumpkin patch visiting, or corn maze exploring, we've rounded up our best suggestions for you.

As we gear up for fall and Halloween, we're bummed to report that two of our favorite seasonal family events aren't happening this year. But not all of our news is bad. We've got the scoop on a pair of veteran NYC businesses that have been saved from extinction, two enhanced green spaces, a fabulous two-for-one Off-Broadway ticket deal, a contest for photo-happy teens, how families can get involved with the People's Climate March and, just when you thought it was safe to finally "Let It Go," prepare yourself for more Frozen!

If your creative kid has moved on from Rainbow Loom, perhaps an organized jewelry making or fashion design class might be the best next step. From bead stringing and soldering to sketching and color theories, there are a few courses/workshops on Long Island where they learn skills and make wearable art. Your local school district's continuing education program or library might offer courses as well.

For more after-school classes, activities and programs for kids in the area, check out our Long Island Classes Guide.

Choosing the right birthday party entertainment can be tricky. The ideal performer will keep kids happy and encourage participation, without overwhelming hesitant little ones. New Jersey is home to many wonderful clowns who can bring that extra spark to your child’s next party with magic, balloons, face painting and more. Read on for our picks of the state’s best entertainers, and for additional birthday party services, visit Mommy Poppins NJ’s Birthday Party Guide.