This Girl Laughs, Cries – and Grows Up: A Tale of 3 Sisters

Like all worthwhile adventures, This Girl Laughs, This Girl Cries, This Girl Does Nothing at Atlantic for Kids starts down a familiar path, hits a fork in the road, and then goes off in unanticipated and delightful directions. Although at the outset this seriocomic play interweaves a number of fairy tale tropes—a sudden death, an evil stepmother, an ineffectual father, and three disparate triplets—it ends up being as kooky and unpredictable as an overtired toddler.

It's also long and explores some complicated themes such as abandonment, longing, and how our childhood dreams evolve as we grow. So is This Girl Laughs, This Girl Cries, This Girl Does Nothing right for your child? Read our review for a sense of what to expect from this unpredictable fable, or check out our complete Theater Guide for NYC Kids for many more options.

10 Winter Staycation Ideas for Philadelphia Families

Photo courtesy of National Park Service

The winter weather may have you counting down the days until you and your family can hit the road for a fun-filled adventure. While you’re waiting for the temps to rise, cabin fever may also be increasing.

Thankfully, the Philadelphia area is home to countless kid-friendly activities to stimulate little minds and make the countdown to summer fly by. Stay home this winter and take advantage of all that Philly has to offer with these great staycation ideas.

New Kids' Gym in Paramus Lets NJ Parents Drop and Shop

Shopping with kids can be a chore. When they’re not running around the sales floor or playing hide-and-seek in the clothing racks, they’re complaining or asking you to buy them something. Instead of dropping $20 on snacks and small toys to keep them happy, why not put that “treat” money toward something both of you can enjoy—a drop-off gym class at the mall. PopFit Kids, which recently opened in the South Court at Paramus Park Mall, offers this and more—including drop-in and weekly classes that offer kids plenty of active, indoor fun. It just might help both kids and parents enjoy a trip to the mall once again. 

A Museum of Candy with Edible Walls Is Coming Your Way

Edible candy murals, a candy-adorned unicorn, and a gigantic gummy bear. Sounds like your kid's best Willy Wonka fantasy? It's actually a new museum headed to New York City's Flatiron neighborhood in 2019.

Sugar Factory, known for its over-the-top desserts, smoking drinks, and celebrity guests, will open the Museum of Candy in the former Limelight Club location (the corner of 20th Street and 6th Avenue). The 30,000-square-foot space, complete with a winding staircase, will showcase candy's pivotal moments from the early 1900s to today, along with 15 candy-themed experiential rooms that might just cause cavities upon viewing.

I'm no stranger to candy. I even incorporate it into my career, taking my kids along to check out the new Hershey's Chocolate World, and dutifully "fact-checking" articles like 15 Insane NYC Desserts To Try. (Tough job.) And now, I'm happy to bring you more details on this sweet new NYC museum

President's Weekend Fun for CT Kids: Eagles, Art, and Lunarfest, February 18-20

Photo Courtesy of the Imagine Nation Museum

Most of us in Connecticut have at least a three-day weekend ahead and with the vagaries of school break schedules, many of us have quite a few more. Happily, Connecticut is a fabulous place to staycation, plenty of fun awaits around the state. We've got all kinds of ideas to get outside from eagle spotting train rides to a guided nature hike to a festive parade celebrating the lunar new year. If you're feeling more of an indoor vibe, check out the Harlem Globetrotters, a puppetry festival, or museum adventures in BristolRidgefield, and Bridgeport.  And if all this togetherness is too much, there's even a fun drop off workshop at the Noah Webster House, for just a few hours or the whole day.

We update our Events Calendar frequently so be sure to check back for even more great suggestions. To keep up with the latest family-friendly events and activities, sign up for our newsletters, and follow us on FacebookTwitter, Pinterest, and Instagram. Have a fantastic weekend!

70+ Baby Classes Around NJ: Music, Gym, Art, Swim

Tots can explore instruments and more at parent-and-child music class.

Parent and child classes can be some of the most wonderful bonding activities during those early years (and months)—plus it's a great excuse to get out of the house! These interactive classes help babies, toddlers, and preschoolers forge new relationships with others, sample a host of playthings, and test out new skills.

The class choices seem to multiply every year: in music, art, yoga, sports, ballet, world languages, nature, swimming, and more. You are sure to find something that will interest both you and your child. And don’t expect these sessions to be filled with just moms. Dads, nannies, grandparents, and all types of caregivers can join in the fun. Some classes offer independent play for toddlers, or even options where siblings can attend.

Read on for a sampling of the best baby classes around New Jersey. Find even more options in our NJ Classes Guide and Directory of Listings.

Dave & Buster's Opens Its Second NJ Location in Wayne

Parents looking for a way to beat the mid-winter blues have a new alternative: Dave & Buster's, the family-friendly arcade and sports bar-style restaurant, is celebrating the opening of its second New Jersey location today, February 14! (Family Valentine's Day outing, anyone?) 

Providing a fun-filled experience for all ages, this gamer's paradise is located in Wayne's Willowbrook Mall, which recently underwent a multi-million dollar facelift. 

Presidents' Day Weekend Fun with Westchester Kids: Circuses, Curling

Image of "Swallows and Amazons" courtesy of the Jacob Burns Film Center

If you’re staying in town for the three-day weekend, get ready for lots of local fun for families right here in Westchester and the Hudson Valley!

As we reported in our February GoList, the circus is in town! With the recent closing of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, the performance by The Royal Hanneford Circus is that much more special. If clowns aren’t enough ha-ha for you, grab some more giggles at Mr. Pennygaf's Cirkus Sideshow Spectacle. Or, for less comedic entertainment, the kid-adventure film Swallows and Amazons looks promising.

If the Olympics has your family asking, “What’s curling and where do people do that?” then take advantage of the local Curling Open House and skip the flight to Pyeongchang. And since Presidents’ Day is intended to honor our presidents, celebrate accordingly at Washington’s Birthday Celebration.

Read on for more of our top weekend picks and check out our Event Calendar for an even bigger selection of activities this weekend and beyond. Kids off from school next week? Check out 40 Things to Do with Kids on a Westchester Winter Staycation to avoid cabin fever.

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