Has the MLK holiday gotten you thinking about how quickly February Vacation Week is coming up? Luckily, fun and enriching programs abound during the break. I've rounded up some terrific vacation week programs for creative kids who like to craft, draw, create virtual worlds, sing and dance - and kids who love nature, too. Read on for my picks, from learning about modern architecture at Einstein's Workshop to creating museum creatures at the MFA. 

If Jason and the Argonauts is a sign of the type of kid-friendly theater we can expect from Beverly Hills' new Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, then families have a lot to look forward to - and a great new reason to rediscover 90210. The 65-minute production out of Scotland is a rare treat, serving up classic story and mischievous humor that reaches a variety of ages simultaneously.

It's ironic in an Alanis Morissette sort of way that the week we launch our Tech & Science Guide for Kids I end up losing my Internet access. Thank goodness for kind neighbors willing to share their WiFi connections with a blogger in need. (One of the upsides of living in such close quarters in NYC!) In this brand-new geeky guide, you'll find all kinds of high-tech fun for kids, including family-friendly NYC makerspaces, Minecraft clubs, cool apps, science museums and more.

Our other big debut this week is our brand-new series of WeeWork Posts. Beginning next week, we'll be sharing simple crafts, recipes, indoor games and other fun activities that you and your kids can do at home for FREE. Check out this great make-your-own indoor snowballs project for a taste of what's in store. Great for those dreary winter days when it's too cold to play outside.

And what are you doing on Saturday? Hopefully joining Mommy Poppins at a special New Victory Theater matinee of the kiddie cabaret Still Awake Still. We're cohosting exclusive pre- and post-show activities, and even offering a 20% discount on tickets to our readers.

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

Ever since my kids saw the stop-motion animated film Chicken Run set in a very tightly-run chicken coop, they’ve been obsessed with factory tours. The precision and organization of a factory assembly line is fun to watch and, despite the repetition, doesn't get tedious (unless you happen to work there). Going behind the scenes and seeing how products are made is always interesting, though I admit my family is partial to food factory tours that culminate in sampling the finished product.

Here is a list of six sweet (and salty) food factory tours that are fun and educational for kids, all located in the Northeast. Some are easy day trips from the tri-state area. Others require a weekend and make great destinations for any upcoming school breaks.

It’s usually right around mid January when the post-holiday slump starts to settle in as we (finally) get around to taking down the last of our decorations and dive back into the routine of work and school. But despite chilly temps and predictable schedules, there’s no reason not to have some weekend fun with the family. New Jersey has some neat winter happenings, like the Maple Sugaring Demos at Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center and an awesome Live Reptile Show at Manasquan Reservoir. Liberty Science Center is keeping the educational fun going all weekend with both their Retro Science: Duct Tape Mania exhibit and the hugely popular Bubblemania show. And remember, you can find a full list of weekend activities in our Event Calendar.

Most schools are closed for Martin Luther King Day on Monday, January 20th so you might be looking for something to do with your children on this cold winter day off. Luckily, there are many options in Hartford County to help entertain you and the family so that you’re not left bored in the house! Honor Martin Luther King with one of these great events. Just in case you are in Fairfield County check out these MLK events too.