There's no denying it--comic book heroes are all the rage right now thanks to such hits as The Avengers and Guardians of the Galaxy. If your child doesn't want to just watch their favorite caped crusader on the big screen (or dress up like them for Halloween), you might want to take a trip down to your local comic book store. Not only are many stocked with comics about a variety of characters (hey, it's reading!), they they also sell toys, trading cards and other collectibles. While comics, on average, are $2.99-$3.99 (double or special issues can a bit more pricey), most comic books shops have knowledgeable employees to point you in the right direction or make recommendations.

Whether your kid is an avid fan or a casual reader, Long Island has several stores that can cater to this fantasy-laden past time. Let those in the know help lead your little one into a new realm of reading. Check out these top shops for items, events, etc. that might interest your lil' Iron Man or wee Wonder Woman. And for more kid-friendly things to do, check out our Long Island Calendar.

More years ago than I’d like to mention, I attended the University of Connecticut at Storrs. My four years there were full of all of the learning, new experiences, and fun that I imagined as a prospective undergrad. Only after having children, however, did I realize that UConn, in particular its animal barns and horse facilities, could be a great resource for area families as well. This August I decided to take a family trip back to my alma mater and discovered that there is plenty of good, clean, family fun to be had there.

Can you hear that ticking? That's summer break winding down. (Back-to-school ads are in full force, and I've even spied some Halloween merch already!) But you still have time for a few more summer flings both in NYC and beyond. If you're looking for a multi-day family getaway, our Travel site shared insider tips for visiting Hersheypark and Chocolate World with kids. Day trips more your thing? We've got the scoop on five fabulous New Jersey beaches less than an hour by car from Manhattan, the best things to do with kids at the New York Renaissance Faire in Westchester, and five family-friendly bike paths on Long Island's East End. Of course there's no shame in just enjoying a NYC staycation—that's my daughter and her friends in the photo enjoying treats at Coney Island last weekend. And we may go there again this Saturday for its big annual Sand Sculpting Contest.

Before you start planning the final weeks of summer, remember, this is your very last chance to enter our SUMMER OF PLAY CHALLENGE, which ends on Friday. All you need to do is share photos of your family having fun on social media with the hashtags #summerofplay and #playmatters, and you'll be automatically entered to win our grand prize: All the fixings to host the Ultimate Summer of Play Bash, including a $200 gift card for Imagine Toys, a $100 gift card for Big Dot of Happiness for custom party tableware, banners and favors, and delicious organic snacks from Kind, Ella's Kitchen and Earth's Best.

Here's what else we covered on the NYC site this week:

Keep the summer going this weekend in Westchester, with an array of fun options ranging from a chess tournament to a Jewish Music Festival and Lego City Weekend. There's truly something for everyone.

The New York Renaissance Faire continues this weekend, so dust off those princess crowns and pirate costumes! Also this weekend--celebrate Native American culture at the Nimham Pow Wow. 

Read on for more details on our top weekend picks--many of which are FREE. Be sure to click through to the event listing for full details. Making plans weeks in advance? Check out our August Go List for our best bets for fun outings happening throughout the month. And remember to check out the myriad of weekday and weekend events we've captured in our event calendar--you'll find there's no shortage of fun things to do this summer in Westchester! 

Two weeks left of summer vacation--let's make them count! Head to the East End of Long Island for Harbes' Watermelon Festival or to Riverhead for the Polish Festival. Looking to experience some theater? Peter Pan, Pinocchio, How I Became a Pirate and The Little Mermaid JR. all have performances this weekend.

Don't see your event listed here? Add it to our events calendar. And if you don't receive this post in your inbox, subscribe to our newsletter. And be sure to check out our Summer Fun Guide.

Show your love for our planet Earth this weekend at Boston GreenFest and the Festival for our Future and learn about environmental issues and solutions through family fun. Kids can build their own bird feeders at the Blue Hills Trailside Museum and learn about the lifecycles of caterpillars and butterflies at the Boston Nature Center. Celebrate the summer harvest at the Corn and Tomato festival and enjoy more agricultural fun at the Marshfield Fair.

If you are looking to listen to some live music, you can choose to see the Fox and Branch family show, the Rockin' Robbins Concert, Josh and the Jamtones Family Jam on Georges Island or Matt Heaton at the Regattabar Kids' Series.

Also on Mommy Poppins this week:

• Tara finds the Best Boston Birthday Party locations for Kids who love STEM (Science, Math, Technology, and Engineering).
• Roberta brainstorms 10 Cool Car Games for Roadtrips and other Boring Backseat Moments.
• Tara compiles an End of Summer Bucket List so that you can make sure to end your summer with a bang.
• Amelia teaches us how to make Upcycled Safari Play Binoculars as part of our Wee Work series.

Below you'll find more great ideas for things to do this weekend. Don't forget to check out our calendar for even more events in the Boston area. Enjoy the weekend!

Now more than ever, the world needs to play.  Whether you're already in academic mode or eking every last ounce of freedom out of summer vacation, the weekend is all yours.  Some of you have been working the Summer of Play from the get go,  but it's never too late to start.  And I can think of no better way than the ultimate pop-up play attraction designed by Disney Imagineers, (perhaps  you're familiar with some of their other work, such as a little spot called Disneyland.)

Whatever your back to school date, summer won't last forever. Like sands in the hourglass, so are the castles on our beach, so you best get to building. The Great Annual Sand Sculpture Contest lets you show your skill with a plastic shovel and bucket. Sand castles in the sand, baby; it's going to be legendary!

Need more inspiration?  How about sea-faring robots? Scooby's birthday? A soul icon? We've got rocket revelry and mud madness, a hoe-down, a cleanup and music that goes boom. So much to do, and only two days to squeeze it into.

Keep reading for our most playful picks this weekend ....

We returned from our summer getaway this weekend, and even though our traveling spirits were buoyed by these 10 Cool Car Games, we were happy to come home to so many fabulous local activities - including this weekend's SoNo Arts Celebration. We've got our list of 120 Things to Do with Kids in Connecticut Before They Grow Up to inspire us, too (we still haven't seen the Rock Cats play)!

Our suggestions for things to do this weekend are below. You can find additional activities in our Event Calendar, and our guides to CT Beaches and Water Fun and CT Summer Fun. Our CT Go List of activities is a monthly round up to help you plan ahead for the rest of the month.

Have fun!