Fun & Free Activities for LA Kids this Weekend: Tall Ships, Malibu Surfing, and Brazilian Day, Sept 8 - 9

I have a confession to make. You know how the last few weeks I've been complaining about the end of summer and the incomprehensibly early start of school? Finally last week I gave in. I relented. Labor Day came and went, and even I had to admit it was time to go back to school. But then I realized...

... no one in my house is in school yet. We're still at the pre-school phase. In other words: September, Shmeptember, it's all the same to us. Which brings me to a new complaint:  what about us? Where’s the love for those of us too young to mark the passage of time by semesters?

Someone must have heard my whining musing, because this week we can point you towards events that even our youngest fans can enjoy.  There’s a G-rated movie, an outdoor concert series just for kids, and the grand opening of a Disney Store designed for the under 2 set. And in honor of Grandparents Day, there are special events that juniors can share with their favorite seniors.

There are still plenty of events for the rest of you big kids: East Hollywood Artcycle, Brazilian Day in LA, Tchaikovsky served up with fireworks,  a surfing competition in Malibu,  festivals of lobsters and tall ships, even Batman and Robin’s stage debut. So get out there and live it up this weekend, but please be quiet when you do: we're taking a nap.

Keep reading for some of our favorite picks for this weekend...

Free & Fun Things to Do this Weekend for NYC Kids: West Side County Fair, Coney Island Kite Festival, Honey Fest September 8-9

Is it horrible for me to admit that I'm excited my son started school this week? Yes I miss him but I enjoy being able to work without him constantly asking, "When are we going to go out and do something?!" We still have the weekends for fun, and this one's jam-packed with awesome annual events we look forward to every year like the West Side County Fair, Arthur Avenue’s Ferrogosto, Wave Hill’s Honey Weekend, the Coney Island Kite Festival and the no-cost Broadway on Broadway concert. Plus, apple picking season is in full swing.

On a more somber note, families can commemorate the 11th anniversary of September 11 at Saturday's Brooke Jackman Read-A-Thon or the JCC in Manhattan’s Day of Service on Sunday.

Our best bets for the weekend are below, and you can check our Event Calendar for lots of other options.

Looking for Classes? We Can Help with That!

Classes! It's September already; are your kids signed up for any classes? It's right there on your "To Do" List: Find a gymnastics class. Arrange some cheap after-school options. Figure out where on earth people take fencing. We live in LA, so you know it's all out there in volumes - you just need to find the time to do some research, right? Allow Mommy Poppins to take care of that for you: introducing our Classes, After School Programs, and Activities Guide.

Classes and Extracurricular Activities in NJ: The Mommy Poppins Guide

It's that special time of year when school is on the brain and we're all thinking about great classes and activities in which we can involve our kids (and ourselves). So we at Mommy Poppins NJ are delighted and pumped and excited and all those happy -ed words, to introduce our Enrichment Programs, Classes and Activities Guide for New Jersey! Check out our ever-growing list of great classes in our fair state, complete with general listings and full articles about our faves. Classy!

Mostly Free & Fun Things To Do With NJ Kids This Weekend Sept 8-9:JazzFeast, Italian Festival, Cockpit Day, Country Fair & More!

I'll admit, I may have shed a few tears this week saying goodbye to summer. But looking ahead to this first weekend in September, you really wouldn't know that those carefree summer days were gone with all the amazing family activities going on. There's Oysterfest, JazzFeast, Hoboken Italian Fest, and the Country Fair and Harvest Festival to keep you in the fair spirit. Read on for all our top picks and remember, you can find a listing of all NJ activities for kids in our Event Calendar.

Best NYC Kids' Concerts for Fall 2012: 11 Live Rockin' Music Shows

September is synonymous with back to school but it doesn't have to be all work and no play. This month also marks the beginning of the new fall culture season and we're kicking off our coverage with a roundup of awesome concerts for kids.

If you're a kindie music fan, it's likely some of your favorites are playing New York City over the next few months. Big names include Gustafer Yellowgold and Elizabeth Mitchell, as well as popular local acts like the Deedle Deedle Dees, Princess Katie & Racer Steve, and Suzi Shelton. My four-year-old daughter and I recently became fans of Shelton—we've been to three of her shows in the last three months.

The coolest thing about our kiddie concert roundup? Five of these shows are FREE. So get ready to move and groove at our top 11 family rock concerts in NYC this fall.

News: Awesome Theater Ticket Deals, Mister Rogers 2.0, Spotlight on Disney Villians, Is Your NYC Child Spoiled?

Lots of good stuff in this edition of our biweekly news post, including excellent deals on Broadway and Off-Broadway theater tickets, details on the debut of a line of Disney villain dolls, super saving at one of our favorite children's bookstores and an ATM that spits out gold coins. Oh, and Mr. Rogers has been replaced by an animated tiger. Amazing what happens when you're away on vacation, huh?

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