For those who pine for fresh pasta, Neopolitan pizzas, and every Italian delicacy that never pops up at Trader Joe's, there's good news. Eataly LA, the latest outpost of what has been called the Disneyland for Italian food (and has become a New York institution), opened its first North American location west of Chicago last week in the newly redone Westfield Century City shopping center. Eataly now has 39 locations throughout Italy and around the world, and just five of those can be found in the US. Eataly LA has three floors (the third is an as-yet unopened restaurant) and offers a little bit of everything: a grocery store, sit-down restaurants, prepared food counters, cafes, and fresh food for home preparation. There's even a cooking school (La Scuola), and foodies who don't want to cook for themselves can watch fresh food being made as well as sample olive oils, balsamic vinegars, and pestos.

So what should kids try? Even picky eaters who hesitate to try Italy's more adventurous fare will be able to find some satisfying pizza and gelato to excite their palates, whether you want to eat in-house, grab a quick bite, or purchase food to make at home.

Just in time for the holiday season, American Girl gave fans citywide a shiny new gift with the opening of its brand-new mega store in Rockefeller Plaza.

The 38,000-square-foot, two-story store opened November 11, replacing its old digs on Fifth Avenue, and is sure to be a destination for lovers of these iconic dolls for years to come. While the original location offered shopping, dining, and salon services, the upgraded spot serves up even more treats for kids (matching makeovers!) and adults (plush benches!) alike.

To really get into the holiday spirit this season, dig into some gingerbread. Whether you want the hands-on experience of learning how to make your own traditional house, or you prefer to peruse the creative works of others, these gingerbread classes, competitions, and displays are sure to keep things festive all season long.

From Pinterest-perfect teacher presents to waiting online for those coveted tickets, the Christmas season can be, well, stressful. There's the Christmas parties, the Christmas cards, and then the presents. And the shopping for the presents. We all seriously need a vacation by 5 p.m. on December 25th. But, when you see those little faces light up when they see the guy in red or when they come across an actual living, breathing reindeer, or when they hear that whistle blow. Every second is worth it. We've rounded up the top 10 things to do with your preschooler during the holidays. So get out there and embrace the magic of the season and make yourself some memories to last a lifetime. Be sure to check out our CT Holiday Guide for even more holiday fun. 

The promise of virtual reality has been dangled before us, enticingly, for years. Until now, disappointing and expensive forays into the virtual world have left us happy to leave VR to hardcore gamers and “boys with toys”... and disposable income. But, finally, virtual reality arcades and an explosion of fun games are making it an actual reality for families.

We recently reviewed VR World in Manhattan and the positive experience made us excited to seek out another virtual reality spot in Brooklyn. The recently relocated vrbar in Dumbo offers virtual reality gaming in a less crowded, reservation-based environment.

‘Tis the season! Besides meeting Santa and find the perfect Christmas gift, max out on memories at these local events. We’ve included a mix of indoor and outdoor events, and rest assured that the outdoor events will come equipped with hot cocoa and other warm treats. With only six weeks until Christmas, it's time to start planning for days of fun with these must-do holiday experiences. 

It's that time of the year, when the kiddos are ready to whisper their heart's desires in Santa's ear! But dude, standing in line at the mall for 10 seconds of laptime is diabolical! Better to plan ahead for a meet-and-greet with the head Elf himself! These family-friendly holiday events not only give you QT with Santa (and friends!), but serve up enough bacon, pancakes, and hot cocoa to get that winter layer rolling! Tip: These breakfast with Santa events fill up fast! Book now to get the date and time you want. Then hurry back to make more holiday plans with our CT Holiday Fun Guide.

It's the most wonderful time of the year! This is especially true for preschoolers, who may be just now starting to really understand what is happening during the hustle and bustle of the holidays. Breakfasts with Santa, holiday light displays, parades, and craft fairs top the list of things to do with kids this season, but sometimes it's hard to navigate what might be age-appropriate to attend with a preschooler. This handy list not only includes area events that are the most kid-friendly, but also gives you some tips for activities to do at home with preschoolers during Thanksgiving and Christmas. 

For even more ideas on how to have fun with your preschooler this holiday season (and the rest of the year, too!) check out our ultimate bucket list of 100 things to do in Houston with kids.