Circus Season in NYC: Ringling, Cirque du Soleil, UniverSoul and Other Spring Circus Shows

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For the first time since 2010, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey are coming back to NYC, but a few things have changed since they last hit the Big Apple. The circus' brand-new show, Built to Amaze, will play Brooklyn's brand-new Barclays Center instead of Manhattan's Madison Square Garden, and many readers have been writing in to ask whether they still plan to do their famous (if controversial) elephant parade using a new route.

The answer is: They don't know. We've been in touch with the Ringling folks and an elephant parade is still a possibility, but a final decision won't be made until mid-March. Update: In lieu of a parade, Ringling is hosting an Elephant Dance Party in Dumbo on Wednesday, March 20. Find the info here.

But here's what we know for sure: There are a lot of circus extravaganzas playing New York City this spring, including brand-new shows by Cirque du Soleil, former Ringling star Bello Nock, the return of Legendarium by the Big Apple Circus and more.

Review of Big Bird’s Adventure: One World, One Sky

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If your toddler is anything like mine, she probably has a borderline manic obsession with all things Elmo.  What it is about that red furry monster who speaks in the third person I may never know; but because he makes my daughter smile, I’ve become a bit of an Elmo-stalker myself.  So you can imagine my delight when I saw that he was co-starring in a mini film at the Museum of Science Planetarium: One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure.

Take the Challenge: A Month of Creativity for Boston Families

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Did you know that March is National Craft Month? In honor of the occasion, the folks at Artbeat Creativity Store in Arlington have issued a challenge – A Month of Creativity – and we’re taking it up a level. Inspired by cre8time.org, the challenge is to find 8 minutes every day, for 30 days, to devote to an art activity. We've added a Mommy Poppins twist: Spend 8 minutes each day working on an art activity with your kids. 

We’ve started the challenge, and so have many of our readers. We know you can do it – and we’ve got a whole palette of tools to help you succeed. Read on for a roundup of ideas to get you started, stores for art supplies, and places to make arts and crafts in and around Boston. 

Are you in?

New Jersey Summer Camp Guide for 2013

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Yes, it's still officially winter, but wise parents like yourselves are thinking ahead to those lonnnggg summer months with your school-less darlings, so we hope our NJ Summer Camp Guide will save you some time and planning-anxiety. We've covered everything from your standard swim-and-craft day camps to we-love-air-conditioning indoor camps. We're constantly updating the Guide and adjusting all pricing for 2013, so check back frequently for new information. Happy camping, NJ!

Stars on Ice: Then and Now Tour with Dorothy Hamill (Review)

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Stars on Ice has returned from its pandemic hiatus for a glorious 2022 tour, following up the exciting winter Olympic season with a skate-and-run visit by the entire US Olympic team. Stars on Ice is the ultimate skating show, and an Olympic year is probably the most exciting time to see it, with all of our young star athletes fresh from international success. If you've only seen an ice show hosted by a giant mouse and a Disney princess, it's high time you checked out the inspiring athletic power house that is Stars on Ice—a grand scale stadium show that features fabulous costumes, uplifting music, and seemingly impossible physical feats on blades. What's not to love?

Great Kids' Shopping in Fairfield County: Toys, Clothing and Baby Gear

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I hate to admit it, but I have become a snob.  A children’s clothing and toy store snob.  With three kids, I have absolutely had it with toys comprised of no fewer than five hundred tiny plastic pieces that invariably find their way under my feet. No more!  I’m putting my foot down and investing in far fewer, but higher quality, toys and clothes for my kids.  To that end, I’ve been scouting out stores in Fairfield County where you can find some inventive, sturdy, and long-lasting toys and clothes for your brood.

Forest Hills with Kids: 25 Things to Do for NYC Families

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Known as one of the ritziest areas in Queens, Forest Hills is especially attractive to families due to its quaint ma-and-pa boutiques and restaurants, excellent public schools and lovely real estate. The neighborhood is divided into three main sections: apartment buildings near Queens Boulevard, single and multifamily homes from the 1920s to 1940s to the west and south (like 20 Ingram Street, a.k.a. the fictional home of Spider-Man's Aunt May), and Forest Hills Gardens, a stunning planned community that was founded in 1909 and looks like an old English village. When I was growing up in Queens, I used to stroll through the Gardens, marveling at the Tudor- and Colonial-style mansions and pretending I was in the "Old World." The gateway to this historic development is the stately Station Square.

While much of this Queens neighborhood is residential with a decidedly suburban vibe, it's easily accessible by subway and the LIRR, and has two commercial drags: Austin Street and Metropolitan Avenue. I love taking my family here to browse the swanky boutiques on Austin Street, and the antique shops and old-school eateries on the quieter Metropolitan Avenue. We also spend a lot of time in the 544-acre Forest Park, strolling, playing or riding on the the historic carousel. (While Flushing Meadows Corona Park is Forest Hills' eastern border, most of the green space's big attractions are located on the Corona side.) Local families keep up on everything happening in the area by reading the Forest Hills Rego Park Times or joining the Forest Hills Mommies and Daddies Yahoo group.

Throughout March, we'll be highlighting all of the things Forest Hills has to offer families, both residents and visitors. For the purposes of our posts, our boundaries are the Long Island Expressway to the north and Jackie Robinson Parkway to the south, Yellowstone Boulevard/Queens Boulevard to the west, and Flushing Meadows Corona Park to the east. We kick off our series of posts with our list of the top 25 things to do with kids in Forest Hills, Queens.

Staten Island Family-Friendly Restaurants: 10 Places to Eat with Kids on SI

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Before I had children, I was always eating out. And now that I have kids, nothing has changed—except perhaps the time that we eat. (No more 9pm dinners!) As a Staten Islander, I'm constantly on the lookout for restaurants in our borough that serve good food and have a nice atmosphere, but are also welcoming to my two boys, ages eight and one.

While it's true that Staten Island has a lot of fast-food joints and mall food court chains, we've got other options, too. Over the years, my family and I have dined all over the borough, and there are certain restaurants that stand out from the rest. Some spots offer entertainment along with the eats, others feature an old New York ambiance and a few offer great deals specifically for families, including one where kids eat free. Here are my top ten favorite places to eat with kids on Staten Island.

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