As you may know, we are featuring the Upper West Side on Mommy Poppins this month, writing about fun things to do, cool toy stores and places to eat, stay and play.

As part of our Upper West Side focus, we're hosting a Moms' Night Out with one of our favorite family spots in the neighborhood, Scribble Press, and it's a wonderful chance to take care of your holiday card and gift making.

As we mentioned last week, Mommy Poppins' neighborhood of the month is the Upper West Side. We already shared our top 30 things to do on the UWS. Today we're highlighting our favorite toy stores in the area.

The UWS is so family-friendly that you can find a business selling toys on most blocks (along with a Starbucks or two). The West 80s in particular could be dubbed "Toy Store Row." Now if you ask my three-year-old, there's no such thing as a bad toy store. However, as an UWS parent who frequently finds herself searching for last-minute birthday party gifts, I certainly like some more than others. Here are sixUpper West Side toy shops that really stand out from the rest in terms of products, prices and cute offerings. One even has a Tooth Fairy Registry.

What a scary week! Last Saturday felt like February (can you imagine if that had been a weekday? NYC schools probably would have been closed—heck, Central Park playgrounds are currently shuttered and many suburbs were totally derailed by the storm). Then on Monday, families dressed up in their creepiest costumes to trick-or-treat for Halloween. (That's me and my family dressed in our Addams Family best.) We're still suffering from a bit of a chocolate hangover in our household. Luckily, we've got lots of suggestions about what to do with all of that leftover candy.

Now that October 31 has come and gone, we're starting to turn our attention to the holiday season. Over the next few weeks, we'll be updating our Holiday Fun Guide and adding new posts, too. We're also highlighting a new neighborhood this month: the Upper West Side. So stay tuned for in-depth posts about things to do and places to play in the area.

And that's just a bit of what's going on. Here's what we covered this week on Mommy Poppins in NYC, New Jersey, Long Island and Connecticut, as well as selected stories from our brand-new sites in Boston and Los Angeles.

What is up with our wonky weather? We're hoping that everyone has electricity again and is ready to enjoy a great weekend. Yeah, October ended with snow (!), but before the cold (and hibernation) settles in for good, there are still pumpkins to be smashed, pajamas to be worn, clay to be made and lots of concerts to enjoy. Stay warm, New Jersey.

Our weekend roundup of events includes a family film festival in Watertown, two events at the deCordova Museum in Lincoln, a concert by the popular Rolie Polie Guacamole kids’ jam band, and the first Christmas Festival of the season. Read on for details, and remember, you can find additional options in our Event Calendar.

With holiday activities gearing up, exploring the Mayor’s Holiday Special website, which offers half-price tickets to many holiday shows all over Greater Boston, a $10-off holiday dining deal, and a full calendar of holiday festivities, is a great resource if you’re interested in saving some money and still seeing some of the best shows around.

This week, we’ve added to our occasional series of preschools in the greater Boston area by highlighting five Cambridge preschools that represent different philosophies or approaches to education, plus a schedule of Open Houses in November. We’d love your thoughts about other great schools to cover in our series; please drop me a line with your ideas.

Enjoy your extra hour of sleep on Sunday with Daylight Saving Time!

Venice del Play Beach Camp (which, in spite of the name, meets on the beach in Santa Monica) is always a great option for school holidays. The yoga, boogie board, and sand castle experts are out there in the California sunshine on Veterans Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Memorial Day, and any other time that school is closed - winter, spring, summer, or fall. All you have to do is call.

Guaranteeing a 5-to-1 ratio of adults to children is important when there's water involved, which explains why the camp charges $90 for a full day of fun. However, Venice del Play is offering Mommy Poppins readers a $15 discount for a limited time! Grab this deal for Veterans Day Capoiera Camp and pay only $75.

Well, folks, we made it through.  Our tricks were treated; our houses were haunted; our buckets were filled with more candy than we’ll ever be able to eat. Now it’s time to sit back, take a breath, and relax, before the onslaught of turkeys, trees, and jolly old elves begins. (Outdoor ice skating has begun already!)

In the spirit of restoration, we all get an extra hour of sleep this weekend. It’s the end of Daylight Savings Time for 2011, so in the wee hours of  November 6 the clock “falls back” an hour. Make sure to reset your clocks (and it’s a good time to check the batteries in your smoke alarm, as well).

This week's fun includes events for TwiHards, Muppet lovers, and kiddie music fans as well as one last chance for arachnophiles.